Post on 12-Nov-2014
Company Logos and their
Meanings
Ever wondered what company logos mean and whats the significance
behind them? Wonder no more!
You might think the arrow does nothing here. But it says that
amazon.com has everything from a to z and it also represents the
smile brought to
the customer's face. Wow, that is quite deep.
Eighty-20 is a small consulting company which does sophisticated
financial modeling, as well as some solid database work. All their work
is highly quantitative and relies on some serious computational power,
and the logo is meant to convey it.
People first guess that 20% of the squares are darkened, but that turns
out to be false after counting them. The trick is to view the dark
squares as 1's and the light squares as 0's. Then the top line reads
1010000 and the bottom line reads 0010100, which represent 80 and
20 in binary.
Kinda like the surreal green screen of The Matrix, they want us to read
stuff in binary
Am not sure how many of you have noticed a hidden symbol in the
Federal Express logo.
Yeah, I am talking about the 'arrow' that you can see between the E
and the x in this logo. The arrow was introduced to underscore speed
and precision, which are part of the positioning of the company.
Paul Rand (who designed the iconic IBM logo in 1972) designed this
'eye bee M' logo in 1981. I like that they are quite relaxed about the
logo, unlike certain other companies who do not like the logo to be
tampered with in any way even for internal promotions
The SUN Microsystems logo is a wonderful example of symmetry and
order. It was a brilliant observation that the letters u and n while
arranged adjacent to each other look a lot like the letter S in a
perpendicular direction. Spectacular.
The above are two magazines from the Readers Digest stable. Again,
the attempt to communicate what it is about quite figuratively through
the logo catches my attention.
This was a logo created for a puzzle game called Cluenatic. This game
involves unravelling four clues. The logo has the letters C, L, U and E
arranged as a maze. and from a distance, the logo looks like a key
This logo is too good. For the name Eight, they
have used a font in which each letter is a minor
adaptation of the number 8.
ABN-AMRO BankBodytext not available yet... Material for design cases, logo evolutions, info on designers and other trivia are very warm welcomed. So if you got anything interesting please let us know by sending an attachment, text-discription or link. Please mail to: submit@goodlogo.com
The following logo holds a reference to this case: ABN-AMRO (1993)
1993, ABN-AMRO
ABN-AMRO Commercial Ad2001, Internet Bankieren
volgens De Bank
AppleThe, now well-known, American company Apple was the first computer firm not to use its name as its corporate identity. The idea of selling a computer under the name and image of a fruit was conceived by Californian Steve Jobs and his collegues (even the word "Macintosh" is the name of an apple variety). The motif of a multicolored apple with a bite taken out of it is a reference to the Bible story of Adam and Eve, in which the apple represents the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.
Click for a more extensive history of Apple and its logo.
1976
2000: Mac OS 9
2001: Mac OS X
The following logos hold references to this case: Apple (1976), Apple (1998), Apple
Newton, Mac OS, NeXT (1986)
Design CasesABN-AMRO
AEG
Ambigram Logos
Apple Macintosh
AT&T
BMW
Brand Branding
Browser logos
Coca-Cola
Exxon Oil
Fiat Automobilia
GoodLogo Story
ICI
KPN Brands
Macromedia
MasterCard
McDonald's
Michelin
Nike
NS Dutch Railroads
Olivetti
Olympic Games
Pepsi
Popstars and Bands
Q8
Renault
Shell
SNCF (French Railway)
Sony
Star Alliance Members
TV Stations
United Parcel Service
Wella
AT&TThe globe symbol symbolizes a world circled by electronic communications. Specifically, the symbol is made up of very carefully delineated "highlight" and "shadow" elements. As a result, the symbol may be reproduced to give the impression of a three-dimensional sphere illuminated from a distant source.
Play the Evolution of the AT&T Corporate
Signature
The following logos hold references to this case: AT&T (1984), Bell (1969)
1999
AT&T Commercial Ad
1930
Browser LogosBelow we try to give a short overview of the main internet browser logos. For more information and timeline history concerning browser versions be sure to check out this great page: http://meyerweb.com/eric/browsers/timeline-structured.html
Google Chrome (2008) Firefox Internet Explorer Netscape
Opera Safari
Coca-ColaThe Coca-Cola script was designed by an amateur, Frank Robinson, the fledgling company's bookkeeper. He devised both the Spencerian script and the brilliantly concise words beneath: "Delicious and Refreshing" in 1886The bottle is among the most recognizable icons in the world, a design that has come to symbolize the youthful exuberance of America. Countless variations have been released over the decades, but the enduring classic is the curved vessel designed by the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana, and introduced in 1915. A Coca-Cola dispenser was later designed by Raymond Loewy.
For more information, see: http://coca-cola-art.com/
Frank Robinson
Dispenser by Raymond Loewy 1915 Early poster
The following logo holds a reference to this case: Coca-Cola (1886)
MacromediaFirst we have to say not only the logo is superstrong, as well is the name itself. Besides being a good alliteration, it stands for everything the internet is. Macromedia foresaw what new media was going to be. The logo is very simple reflecting the alliteration of the two M's.
The old logo
The present logo
Already made with... Still made with.. Made with!
The following logo holds a reference to this case: Macromedia
EuroCard MasterCardBodytext not available yet... Material for design cases, logo evolutions, info on designers and other trivia are very warm welcomed. So if you got anything interesting please let us know by sending an attachment, text-discription or link. Please mail to: submit@goodlogo.com
The following logos hold references to this case: Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard
McDonald'sThe McDonald's Golden Arches logo was introduced in 1962. It was created by Jim Schindler to resemble new arch shaped signs on the sides of the restaurants. He merged the two golden arches together to form the famous 'M' now recognized throughout the world. Schindler's work was a development of the stylized 'v' logo sketched by Fred Turner, which was conceived as a more stylish corporate symbol than the Speedee chef character that had previously been used. The McDonald's name was added to the logo in 1968.
The following logo holds a reference to this case:
McDonald's (1962)
Nike
McDonald's restaurant
1978
1995
The Nike logo is a classic case of a company gradually simplifying its corporate identity
as its frame increases. The company's first logo appeared in 1971, when the word "Nike,"
the Greek goddess of victory, was printed in orange over the outline of a checkmark, the
sign of positivity. Used as a motif on sports shoes since the 1970s, this checkmark is now
so recognizable that the company name itself has became superfluous. The solid, orange
check was registered as a trademark in 1995.
The following logos hold references to this case: Air Jordan, Nike, Nike Classic (1972)
Olympic GamesFar in advance of every Olympic event, the logo for the Summer or Winter edition of the Games are designed. Even before a city is chosen, it has become a tradition to design a logo and branding for every city that's in the bidding for hosting the games. Because of huge competition and because when the logo is chosen it will appear just about everywhere for at least half a year and the 5 to 6 years awaiting the Games, the quality of these logos is very high.
Also most logos hold some same ingredients. First of all the logo of course should have something unique regarding its host, secondly the Olympic rings should be in it and optionally most times a person or persons figure in the logo displaying the joy the Olympics bring.
Because logos are designed so long in advance of the actual games on goodlogo we try to list logos based on their creation year, not their operational year.For more history on the Olympics please also see: http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/symbols/emblem/
Olympic Games logos by year of the games or when known by year of design:
Rio de Janeiro 2016 (2009) Tokyo 2016 (2009) Chicago 2016 (2007) London 2012 (2007)
Madrid 2016 (2007) Beijing 2008 (2003) Athens 2004 (1999) Sydney 2000 (1996)
Nagano 1998 (1993) Atlanta 1996 (1991) Albertville 1992 (1987) Barcelona 1992 (1987)
Seoul 1988 (1983) Olympics (1912)
Copyright ©2000-2009 goodlogo!com - Last modified at 00:49 on Wednesday the 28th of January 2009
Pepsi Cola Branding EvolutionUnlike big brother Coke, Pepsi has always struggled with its identity and logo design. Over the last century Pepsi renewed its branding several times. For an overview of this evolutions please see below:
1898 1905 1906
1940 1950 1962
1973 1991 1998
Renault, Créateur d'AutomobilesThe Renault diamond started out as a bonnet emblem. The horn lived behind it, and from 1922 the centre of the badge was cut out to allow the sound to escape. It started out circular and became a diamond shape in 1924. The new logo exists since 1992.Style Marque changes the company's logo, which becomes a 3D diamond shape. The company's headquarters transfers to the Quai du Point du Jour.
Please scroll down for a more extensive eloboration of the new 3D logo.
Early PosterThe new 3D proposal in 2D
Variants for the new 3D logo
Final version forthe new 3D logo and 3D constructual implementation
The new 3D logo, as created by Style Marque...
And its application on a Renault bonnet
Shell 1900-1971
Although primarily a petroleum company, Shell has many other commercial interests, and more than 90 percent of its businesses around the world use the time-honored logo. The picture of the shell has been altered several times over the years, but has been modified very little since 1971, when the text was repositioned below the stylized image.
The present logo Shell product branding
The following logo holds a reference to this
Shell (1971)
SonyThe visual simplicity of the Sony logo is pivotal to its design. Easy to understand and pronounce, the name is readable in any language and immediately recognizable. The name derives from the Latin sonus, meaning 'sound'. The design of the logo has been modified only minimally since 1957, when the strokes of the letters were lighter and the word itself more expanded. The version shown here is from 1973; it has remained the same since then.
October 3, 2001 Sony established a joint venture with Swedish telecommunications company Ericssonon to make mobile phones. The stated reason for the venture is to combine Sony's consumer electronics expertise with Ericsson's technological leadership in the communications sector. As of 2002 both companies stopped making their own mobile phones.
The following logos hold references to this case: It's a Sony, Sony Electronics (1973),
Sony Ericsson (2001), Sony Vaio
1973
It's a Sony
2001: Sony Ericsson
Star Alliance Members
Air Canada Lufthansa Scandinavian Airlines
Star Alliance
TAP Air Portugal Thai Airways
TV Stations
Cuatro (2005) Antena 3 (2004) Animal Planet (1996) Pro Sieben (1994)
NBC (1986) MTV (1981) British Broadcasting Company
CANTV
Canvas CNN Das Vierte Discovery Channel
RTL4 RTVE Sat1.de SBS 6
Sky VARA Veronica Omroep Organisatie
Yorin
ZDF
Nothing filled out.
ING BankingR=50%, 3pts.
NBCNBC, National Broadcasting Company
R=67.2%, 2pts. +2 points
UnileverUnilever
R=75.2%, 1pt. +1 point
Nothing filled out.
VaillantR=26.5%, 3pts.
Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
R=92%, 1pt. +1 point
Sun Microsystems
Columbia SportswearR=24.2%, 4pts.
Nothing filled out.TUI AG
R=24.5%, 4pts.